#phigalia

[bugtoucher420]

A small collection of critter sightings. I've been very happy to see any signs of life this time of year <3

[en-theos]

ANOTHER DEMETER AND CANNIBALISM CONNECTION HAS HIT THE JUDITH BRAIN

so apparently Demeter Melaina, worshipped at Phigalia in Arcadia was not just Erinyis in creating a famine, that famine was explicitly threatened as a return to pre-agricultural conditions, aka cannibalism, aka eating your own children. in pausanias 8.42.6, the Pythia gives an oracle that explains what the Phigalians must do about the famine:

Azanian Arkadians, acorn-eaters, who live in Phigalia, the cave in which hid Deio horse-bearer, you have come to learn a cure for painful famine, who alone have twice been nomads, who alone have been eaters of wild fruits once more. Deio made you cease from pasturing, Deio made you pasture again, after being binders of corn and eaters of cake, because she was deprived of the prize given by former men, and ancient honours. And she will quickly make you eaters of each other, and eaters of children, if you do not assuage her anger with public libations, and adorn the recess of her cave with divine honours.

This reinforces the idea that gods' negative and positive sides mirror each other, and that their positive effect on the earth and mortals is directly related to a possibility of deprivation. Demeter has given agriculture and can give fertility, but can also take away fertility, resulting in famine. she provides the means for sustenance, but can make you literally eat yourself (and yours) in anger. apollo provides light and healing but also plague. ares is both a cause of war and a protection against it. etc etc

[coolbugs]

Bug of the Day

Had a Small Phigalia at the light the other night, too, this one is Phigalia strigataria.

[onenicebugperday]

@niftyflowers​ submitted: south texas! cannot for the life of me figure out what moth this is!

Looks like a geometer in Phigalia. Could be either a small Phigalia or a toothed Phigalia, they look super similar!

[bugtoucher420]

Toothed phigalias have been the only moths I've seen this winter. This male has been sitting on my screen door all day, staring into my living room with his little peepers, watching Gilmore Girls on my TV.

[coolbugs]

Bug of the Day

A fresh BotD! Got into the 70s this past week, so I put some lights out and got a few Phigalias, including this half-wing, Phigalia titea

[onenicebugperday]

@annasinthewalls​ submitted: Spotted this beauty on my from porch lamp. I'm in Connectict, and see these a lot.

(he's been here all day, I spotted him in the morning, so I fear he may have passed)

It’s not unusual for bugs to rest for long periods of time when they don’t have anything else to do - might as well conserve the energy for mating or finding food, for those who do eat as adults. So it may not be dead! Anyhoo this looks like a friend in the genus Phigalia! I’d hesitate to say which species as they can look veeeeeeeeeeery similar. They’re a type of geometer, though. :)

[coolbugs]

Bug of the Day

A gorgeous melanistic half-wing (Phigalia titea) on the wall of my porch last night.